Is there a secret language all around us? What's so special about the shape of the Great Pyramid? Lavishly illustrated by the author, this small introduction to geometry will forever change the way you look at a triangle, arch, church window, fabric design, graphic or spiral. This mathematical history book is one of many art books available from the National Gallery, which include art history books, art exhibition catalogues & gift books. ...

This picture shows a group of sailing boats making their way across the choppy waters of a Dutch river. In the distance the shore & the outline of an unidentified town can just be discerned. Ships of this type were used in the Netherlands to transport p ...

This work was painted as the high altarpiece of the church of S. Alessandro, Brescia. The solemnity of the central scene of the Nativity is relieved by a vision of rejoicing angels occupying the upper part of the panel. On either side, panels depict Saint Alexander (lower left) & Saint Jerome in penitence (lower right) with his lion, a stone & a crucifix. Above these lateral panels are Saint Gaudioso (upper left) & Saint Filippo Benizzi (upper right). The strongly Venetian character of Romanino's work is most apparent in the heroic & richly coloured figure of Saint Alexander, who is in the place of honour, at the right hand of the Holy Family, as befits the patron saint of the church. Centre panel 265 x 117.2 cm; lower side panels 159.5 x 64.2 cm & 159.1 x 64.8 cm; upper side panels 74.2 x 64.9 cm & 74.2 x 65.2 cm. ...

This painting & ' Saint Paul', to judge by the perspective, were perhaps originally part of the upper tier of an altarpiece in compartments (polyptych). Since the pictures are Milanese, the bishop is likely to be Saint Ambrose who was the patron saint of ...

In the 17th century, a triptych of 1520 was in the Premonstratensian Abbey of Le Parc, near Louvain. It showed the Virgin & Child, Saints Ambrose & Augustine, & Abbot Ambrose. This work may be the right wing of it, & the donor may thus be Ambrosiu ...

This saint is usually identified as Andrew, despite the fact that his cross is usually X-shaped. This work is part of the same altarpiece as ' Christ rising from the Tomb'; other parts are known to have survived. Other compartments show Saints Peter, Paul, ...

Saint Anthony Abbot (about 251
- 356) is shown in a monastic habit & has a Tau-shaped cross & carries a book. Painted around the
...

In the centre are shown the Virgin & Child enthroned. In the lower row, from left to right are Saints Bernardino, Anthony of Padua, Peter Martyr & John the Baptist. In the upper row are Saints Jerome, Catherine, the Pieta, Saint Sebastian & a female ...

The friars on the left are Franciscan & the one in the centre has a Glory, & may be intended to depict Saint Anthony of Padua. The poor on the right, who receive bread from the Franciscans, include two pilgrims. In 1662 van Herp was paid 95 guilders fo ...

A certain Leonardo kicked his mother. When the saint heard of this he said the offending foot deserved to be cut off; Leonardo cut it off, but the saint restored it. This is a preparatory sketch for one of the series of six frescoes about the life of Saint Anthony of Padua (Church of San Antonio de los Portugeses, now Alemanes, Madrid). An exact date for the frescoes is not established; they are thought to be shortly before 1700. ...